(Note: See The Guy’s Guide to Glamping – Section 1, Chapter 1 for Part 1 of this amazing adventure.)

Section 1, Chapter 1: RV Trip 2021-05 – Serendipity River Park – Part 2:

Guys’ Night & Guys’ Day

The Code of Guy is a complex and fortunately not well known set of unwritten rules used to guide the behavior and guard the reputation of guys. For example, if you were to ask if the guys in our camping group took showers while on our camping adventure, the Code of Guy would demand each of us to avoid comment on the question – after all, we have a right to privacy.

Likewise, should one inquire regarding the nature or topics of our nighttime, round-table discussions, one would be answered only with a smile that loudly proclaimed that one was quite foolhardy to pry into the secret inner sanctum of ‘guy’. So, I will relate the happenings of Guys’ Night and Guys’ Day at Serendipity River park in full adherence to the Code of Guy.

Guys’ Night

In Part 1 you were introduced to guy camping conducted on a lavish scale. Yes, Grandson #3 and Son-in-Law #1 dined on an exquisitely prepared dinner of hot dogs and other healthful and nutritious foods as listed in our guy camping menu. Now it’s important to note that the beverages offered with the meal were not listed – that was due to certain privacy concerns. Serendipity River Park is located quite close to several breweries, and a fine distillery is within easy walking distance. With this in mind, GS#3, SIL#1, and I were confronted with an array of beverage options. It was only after a long and meaningful discussion that we finally settled upon the manly beverage that would accompany our meal. That’s right, you guessed it – Chocolate Milk!

Guys’ Night would not have been complete without our astounding store of snacks to accompany our three-movie marathon. M&Ms were measured out by the pound. There were bags and bags of trail mix, containing all possible ingredients to satisfy the varied tastes of our guy ensemble. Chex Mix was the favored treat for GS#3. And the list goes on and on. There is no way whatsoever to wonder why our movie watching consisted of equally high decibel levels of laughter, discussion, and snack munching and crunching. – The local wildlife would have no rest on this night.

Then, in the wee still hours of the early morning, three guys decided to call it quits. We said our bedtime prayers and climbed into our assigned berthing areas. I went to the queen sized bed, SIL#1 curled up in the dinette sleeping area, and GS#3 climbed up into the loft over the cab. Thus ended Day 1 of our two-day trip.

Guys’ Day

Breakfast the next morning was notable for the way we all pitched in to prepare this glorious first meal of the day. Fried bacon was in abundant supply. Eggs enough for seconds all around were prepared outside on the cook stove. SIL#1 prepared toast and other sides in the commodious RV kitchen. And, of course, there was coffee and orange juice. Yes, a hearty breakfast for a hungry group of guys!

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Once the dishes were cleaned and the RV was made “ship shape” (not necessarily to glamping standards), we started on full day of manly exploring adventures. First we found our way to nearby Civil War historical locations. GS#3 took great interest in the campsite of Union soldiers from Pennsylvania.

We followed the Thornton River into village of Sperryville, noting all points of interest. This was the beginning of tourist season here in the Blue Ridge. Early lookie-loos from the big cities, expecting the Autumn colors already to be at full peak, meandered about in disappointed groups wondering why their timing was so incredibly wrong. We, on the other hand, know the Shenandoah National Park area quite well. There was no disappointment for us. No, we merely enjoyed all that was around us, including the lookie-loos. – Then we made our way back to our base camp. It had been a tiring outing.

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The realities of Grandson #3’s disease have a way of intruding into all aspects of our lives. Perhaps the hike had been too long and too tiring. GS#3 was showing signs of fatigue caused by the side effects of recent chemotherapy. – Sometimes you have to surrender to reality. – Son-in-Law #1 and I decided now was the appropriate time to bring this guy camping adventure to an end. So, we packed up all our belongings, broke camp, and made preparations for the homeward leg of our journey. We bid farewell to Louise, thanking her for all she had done. And then we made our way up the long and bumpy lane, looking back one more time at our riverside campground at Serendipity River Park.

Along the way, SIL#1 proposed that we should pray the Rosary together. And so we did. GS#3 led us in that Rosary. We offered it in dedication to the real patron of guy camping, a special saint to whom this past year has been devoted. Yes, we dedicated our Rosary to that man who had to take his family on several extended trips that required long treks, camping under the stars, and one time even staying in a stable – a real man, a real guy, a real father – St. Joseph.

And as I went to rest that night in my comfortable bedroom at Serendipity Farmhouse, I looked up to see the painting just above my bed – Flight into Egypt. And now it is my ritual, each and every night to look up at that painting and I say, “Dear St. Joseph, please remember me and those in my family, especially Grandson #3, to your Son.”

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Author’s Note: It is necessary for me to acknowledge that I am the husband of a hard core, die hard glamper and, for the sake of self preservation, I have conformed myself to almost all facets of her glamping lifestyle. That means, of course, that my credentials as a 100% ‘guy’ are somewhat sullied and do not hold full weight and merit in the eyes of 100% bona fide guys. Although severely compromised on this point, I remain a happily married coward.

In an effort to overcome that loss of acceptance by the guy community at large, let it be known by one and all that in writing The Guy’s Guide to Glamping I have consulted on a regular basis with two stalwart proponents of the real guy philosophy. The first is legendary in this region of the Shenandoah Valley. He is the world renowned Donald Wiser, Ph.D.* the author of what some refer to as the ‘definitive guide to guy’. And no book about what it means to be a guy camper would be complete without frequent reference to the thoughts and opinions of that true icon of guy camping, our own highly distinguished Mr. Monte.

*Factoid: The nickname for Donald is “Bud”.

Introduction

Now you may have fallen for the balderdash presented in the recent crop of books and magazines fixated on the world of glamping. Those books are mostly written by glamping gals and they are filled with every sort of aberration of the ancient recreational art known as camping. To a person like me who grew up in Scouting, with a father who had actually met Sir Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, glamping is an entirely foreign concept. For us real camping guys, it is immediately understandable why virtually no books about glamping are written by guys.

Yet, the incontrovertible fact is my lovely and most endearing Spouse is a dedicated glamper. And even though we spent thousands to purchase our Class-C RV “El Camino Del Monte” for camping, it is true to say there will be no camping unless it is high class glamping. So, for the sake of domestic tranquility, I have had to adapt my camping style to her glamping style. – – Yes, call me a coward because I have compromised my beliefs, but I remain a happily married coward.

I might also add that both of us, the long-time camper and the beautiful and dedicated glamper, have had to modify our style of glamping to accommodate the whims and extremes of Malicious Monte, the namesake and real ruler of our RV.

(For those of you who want a taste of what glamping is all about here at Serendipity Farmhouse, refer to the following posts: 4th of July Glamping and RV Cooking – Two Easy Meals.)

The three smartly dressed and well groomed gentlemen appearing in this post’s featured image are none other than dear Grandson #3 (GS#3), yours truly, and, of course, esteemed Son-in-Law #1 (SIL#1). We will be your hosts introducing this, the very first chapter of the very first section of the forthcoming and soon-to-be-best-selling-book “The Guy’s Guide to Glamping – A Serendipity Farmhouse Perspective.”

Section 1 RV Trip 2021-05 – Serendipity River Park – Chapter 1 The Beginning

This particular trip has been long in the planning (over two years) and many times postponed. The reason for postponements this year were caused by a medical diagnosis that indicated our greatly loved GS#3 has acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Much of the RVing season was lost to us while GS#3 underwent the first phase of chemotherapy. And throughout that most difficult period, GS#3 kept asking, “When will we be able to make our RV trip, Granddad?”

The dilemmas and tribulations brought about by chemotherapy, COVidiocy, and work schedules, kept causing the trip date to be moved back. Finally!! Finally!! There was a break in clouds and the sun shone through, we finally found a date when GS#3, SIL#1, and I could make the trip. No matter what might come up, I refused to have that date changed.

And things did come up. Do you remember that water leak in our front yard that I wrote about in SFH Journal: 2021-10-11 through 10-17 – Dark Autumn Reflections? Sure enough to my dismay, the only day the plumbers could come out was on the second day of our planned trip. I would not be deterred, lovely Spouse and I found a workaround. The trip would go on!

Then, SIL#1 sent an email. GS#3 was not doing well and he might need a blood transfusion, our trip might have to be postponed. That’s when beautiful Wife and I went to the church and made a direct plea for assistance or intervention. God heard us and answered in the affirmative – on the day of the trip, GS#3 was strong enough and the trip would go on!

With this good news, the three guy campers now threw everything they had into getting ready for the trip. A real camping trip. A real camping trip with a few modifications to accommodate dearest glamping Spouse. It would be a real guy glamping / camping trip. No gals allowed!

Without question, two important lists had to be prepared – the menu and the movie list. I took care of the menu, ensuring that it would be a menu remembered by all. GS#3 volunteered to prepare the guys’ night movie list. It consisted of a primary grouping and was accompanied by a large number of alternatives. Below, you will see the most fantastic menu ever, followed by the three movies that were actually watched on guys’ night.

The Muppets (2011) – Full Cast & Crew – IMDb

Muppets Most Wanted (2014) – IMDb

Stargate (1994) – IMDb

The big day finally came. El Camino Del Monte (ECDM) departed Serendipity Farmhouse and travelled the 20+ miles to pick up GS#3 and SIL#1. Although the forecasts had originally been threatening, the weather turned out to be perfect for an Autumn RV trip. After some forty minutes on the road, ECDM pulled up next to the house that all seasoned travelers know as the landmark announcing arrival at the gateway to the Shenandoah National Park – the town of Front Royal.

Within minutes, GS#3 and SIL#1 were aboard ECDM with all their carefully packed belongings – two small knapsacks, pillows, and a highly favored blanket. – Let the adventure commence! – And we were off, heading to that hidden oasis of happiness known as Serendipity River Park (SRP). Owned and operated by our dear friends Don & Louise, SRP has been a haven and resting place for ECDM and it Serendipity Farmhouse crew on several occasions over the last four years.

(See Serendipity River Park – Re-Creation to learn more about Serendipity River Park.)

Just after we crossed over Chester Gap on US522, I called the secret, only disclosed to us Serendipity River Park phone number. The delightful voice that could only belong to our dear friend Louise immediately answered. We told her our expected time of arrival and she informed us that everything was ready for our two-day stay. – Both GS#3 and SIL#1 eagerly awaited meeting Louise and having their first view of SRP.

The miles quickly passed under our wheels and it seemed like no time at all before we were pulling down the long, bumpy lane that leads to Serendipity River Park. Then, there she was, Louise was standing to the side of drive waving her ‘hello’. ….

Tune in next time for the continuation of our RVing adventure.

Some Glamping / Camping Facts: Please view the pictures below. Take some time to compare and contrast. On the left you will see an amazingly beautiful and dignified glamping gal. You will note that she is drinking her afternoon tea from the finest of China and her table is adorned with flowers. On the right, you will see two real guy campers awaiting a gourmet dinner of hot dogs and corn chips. SIL#1 in the foreground is sporting a fine pair of bare feet while wearing suitably worn and frayed sweatpants and t-shirt. GS#3 is quietly musing on the wonders of nature while attempting to become invisible to all biting insects. – The glamping gal is happy and the camping guys are happy.

Gal Glamper

Guy Anti-glamper